The DD Council’s primarily objective is giving individuals with developmental disabilities and their families a helping hand. From it’s recently revised Parent Packet to its cooperation with numerous state agencies and organizations, the Council is actively engaged in helping families navigate the often complex system while searching for the resources necessary to meet the needs of the individual and family.

A major component in DDC’s family services is the Family Leadership Project (FLP). Conducted annually, the project’s primary objective is to assist FLP graduates effectively participate in the development and implementation of policies, programs and services that directly impact their lives. FLP’s goals include furnishing a wide range of information about services and supports; providing a better understanding of the strategies needed to affect system change, and presenting the techniques necessary to work more effectively with state, federal and local agencies. The Council accepts FLP applications through December 31st of each year. Classes are conducted over a three month period, beginning in March and ending in May. To get more information about DDC’s family services, its publications, and activities, including the FLP program, please contact Family Services Coordinator Brenda Mercer at brenda.mercer@arkansas.gov

Although the deadline has already passed to complete and submit applications for this, they are still accepting families. The first meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 2, 2012, and Saturday, March 3, 2012, beginning each day at 8:30 a.m.  A schedule is included for the 2012 training.  The training will be conducted at the:

Ramada Limited & Suites
8 Shackleford Road
Little Rock, AR  72211
501.221.766

DDC will reimburse participants for costs associated with attending the training sessions.  This means that participants will be responsible for paying the costs of transportation to and from Little Rock, respite (child care) expenses and meals.  At the training, participants will complete a reimbursement form (TR-1) and within 3-4 weeks will receive a check in the mail for expenses.  Charges for motel/hotel will be direct billed to DDC and will not be billed to participants. 

You may reach Brenda at 501.280.4608 or 1.800.462.0599, Ext. 280.4608, or again at brenda.mercer@arkansas.gov.  


You  may also be eligible for funding provided by the DD Council based on your specific needs. There are 3 areas where this applies below. Click the links to find out more information:

Parent Activity Fund
The Arkansas Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council is pleased to announce the availability of
funds to support Quality Assurance acitivities of parents of children with developmental disabilities.
Funding will be provided for participation in state and/or national conferences,other training opportunities which increase the parent’s knowledge of disability issues and develop advocacy skills. Requests must be submitted no later than September 30, 2012.

Self Advocacy Fund
The Arkansas Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council is pleased to announce the availability of funds to support Quality Assurance activities of individuals with developmental disabilities. Funding will be provided to organizations that support self-advocacy activities for individuals with developmental disabilities who demonstrate an expressed interest in attending trainings, meetings and other quality assurance activities that promote integration, leadership and community inclusion.

Requests must be submitted no later than September 30, 2012 and funding will be awarded in amounts no greater than $1,000 per request.

Transition Fund
The Arkansas Governor’s Developmental Disabilities Council is pleased to announce the availability of funds to assist provider organizations in helping individuals with disabilities transition into community settings. $500 per individual. Requests for funds must be received no later than September 30. 2012.

If you have any further questions please contact Brenda whose information is above or NWA CPRC at cprc@supports.org or 479 927 4100. Thanks!

Arkansas Support Network is pleased to announce the hire of Albious Latior as Outreach Coordinator for Marshallese Families.  Mr. Latior has worked in several capacities for the Marshallese in Northwest Arkansas, most lately for the Jones Center for Families in Springdale.   Arkansas Support Network has a federal grant from the Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs, to provide information and training to families who have children who receive special education services and those whose children are eligible for these services.  One of the areas of focus for this grant is immigrant families, particularly Hispanic and Marshallese.

Lynn Donald, Director of the Family Support Program for ASN, says “we are pleased to have Mr. Latior’s experience and his contacts within the Marshallese community to help us as we strive to reach out to Marshallese families with children who have disabilities.“  Mr. Latior will work in the offices of ASN in the Jones Family Resource Center on Emma St.  He can be contacted by calling 479-225-0883 or by emailing  him at motr@supports.org.

A number of organizations and individuals in Arkansas are pooling their time and resources in order to create a state-wide Sibshop network.   It is their hope to model the state’s Sibshop network after the incredibly successful program approach developed by Don Meyer.  What is a Sibshop you ask?  A Sibshop is best described as ‘a program which provides opportunities for brothers and sisters of children with special healthcare needs to obtain peer support and education within a recreational setting.’

To quote further from Don Meyer’s book Sibshops, Revised Edition, “Sibshops are lively, pedal-to-the-metal celebrations of the many contributions made by sisters and brothers of kids with special needs.  Sibshops acknowledge that being the brother or sister of a person with special needs is for some a good thing, for others a not-so-good thing, and for many something in between.  They reflect a belief that sisters and brothers have much to offer one another…if they are given a chance.  The Sibshop model intersperses information and discussion activities with new games (designed to be unique, offbeat, and appealing to a wide ability range), cooking and craft activities, and special guests who may teach participants mime, how to juggle, or, in the case of one guest artist who has cerebral palsy, how to paint by holding a toothbrush in your mouth.  Sibshops are as fun and rewarding for the people who host them as they are for the participants.”

A Sibshop training event with Don Meyer is currently scheduled for April 20-21, 2012.  The training event will be held at the Comfort Inn in downtown Little Rock at 707 Interstate 30.  We are currently looking for organizations and individuals to sponsor a Sibshop in their area.  We are also seeking out energetic and enthusiastic people to run the Sibshops.  Finally, we are looking to reach out and connect with siblings that could benefit from attending Sibshop activities.  Sibshops are not just for children, but also for siblings of adults with special health care needs as well.

We are very excited about the potential positive impact that this new Sibshop network will have on families in Arkansas.  We would love for you to be a part of this project.  If you have any questions or would like to find out more information about the upcoming training event, please contact Judy Young with Partners for Inclusive Communities at UAMS at   501-682-9900 or 800-342-2923 or youngjuditha@uams.edu.